The disease is spread through the bodily fluids of people showing symptoms, placing doctors and healthcare workers at maximum risk.

Almost 600 healthcare workers have been infected in the West African nations during this epidemic, and 324 of them have died.

More than 100 of these deaths have been in Sierra Leone, according to the WHO.

The country has poor medical care and started with just two physicians for every 100,000 people at the beginning of the outbreak.

Ebola has infected over 17,500 people, mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Of those, almost 7,000 have died.

WHO had acknowledged last week that an increase in Ebola cases in Sierra Leone meant the country was running behind the target of 70% isolation and 70% safe burials. But the situation is improving with the country able to isolate at least 60% of the cases, reported AFP.

The WHO is now gearing up to meet a new target - 100% isolation of patients and 100% safe burials by 1 January.